It's All About The Alligators

 "It's All About The Alligators" ●

Many years ago, I worked for a guy that always liked to express himself in idioms.  He had a million of them. "get your ducks lined up" , "break a leg", "waste not want not", "take a load off",  the list is endless.

But one of his favorites was "When you are up to your ass in alligators" . . . .  Quite honestly, at the time, I was never quite sure of what it meant.

Many years later, I still remember the words. and with the help of the internet, I have been able to find the quote in its entirety, and I think I now know what he was trying to say.

Here is the full quote:

"The objective of all dedicated employees is to thoroughly analyze all situations, 

anticipate all problems prior to their occurrence, have answers for these problems, 

and move swiftly to solve these problems when called upon. 

However, when you are up to your ass in alligators, it is difficult 

to remember that your initial objective was to drain the swamp."

This quote, often used in business, is about how unintended consequences can assume greater importance than the activity originally undertaken. . .  I think.

Using a wooden game board, I spelled out the quote with Scrabble tiles. An articulated wood toy alligator is attached to add interest.

Wine Tasting

"Wine Tasting"
The inspiration for this simple piece comes from living in beautiful Sonoma County California, also know as 'wine country', and often called 'God's Country'.

Although it is structurally simple in design, this piece is complex on many levels, and it 'speaks to people in different ways.

• Most find it humorous. 
• Some find it deep with meaning and symbolism. 
• A few, 'gasp' when they get it . . .
• A couple have simply asked, " is that a clothes hanger?"

The scrabble tiles spell out the sentiment "Wine Tasting  Everyone Welcome" . . . . begging the question: Are they really? 

A couple of years ago, I made a similar, smaller piece also titled "Wine Tasting".  It was so much fun to make, I wanted to do it again.

A resin plaque featuring the last supper has been cut to fit inside a game box lid. Vintage wooden hangers and rulers frame the scene. The lid box is covered inside and out in vintage decorator papers. The piece is signed, dated and ready to hang.

"Pig Song"

"Pig Song" ●

"NEVER TRY TO TEACH A PIG TO SING, IT WASTES YOUR TIME AND IT ANNOYS THE PIG"

I posted this piece a few days ago, and I was not happy with the photo, so I took it down. And now here it is again, a little bit better image.

The piece is constructed in a small cabinet door found at Habitat for Humanity ReStore.  I used several layers of hand made papers on the front. On the back, I used various papers and images as well as Mexican Lotteria cards and other bits. Scrabble tiles spell out the quote, with a trio of dancing pigs, who appear to be singing.  (click on image to enlarge)

"You and Me"

"You and Me" ●

I read this quote and I just loved it.  Immediately I thought it deserved to be imortalized in scrabble letters . . . Hope you like it. 

" I LAUGH I CRY I HOPE I TRY I HURT I NEED

I FEAR I LOVE AND I KNOW YOU DO TOO

SO WE ARE REALLY NOT THAT DIFFERENT YOU AND ME"

A small wood cabinet door found at Habitat for Humanity's Re-Store is the perfect frame for this piece. The door is covered, front and back, in rich, vibrant green tissues, bits of vintage sheet music, and hand written letters and pattern pieces.  The piece is ready to hang or sit on a stand. (click on image to enlarge)

"Up To Your Ass"

"Up To Your Ass" ●

One thing I remember about a former boss of mine was that he would always use parables when he was trying to explain a process or a procedure.  This was one of his favorites: 

"When you are up to your ass in alligators, 

it is difficult to remember that your

initial objective was to drain the swamp.

I took a very narrow cabinet door, found at Habitat for Humanities - RESTORE Store, and filled it with scrabble tiles to spell out the saying.  I used vintage yard sticks to frame the door. (PS: the misspelled word has been corrected - can you find it?)  (click on image to enlarge)

 2/16 OK - I FIXED IT - THE FIRST PICTURE IS THE  CORRECTED ONE.

SOLD

 

"Snake" (by d.h. lawrence)

"Snake by D.H. Lawrence"●

In high-school, one of my favorite poets was D.H. Lawrence. And one of my favorite Lawrence poems was SNAKE. (http://homepages.wmich.edu/~cooneys/poems/dhl.snake.html)   I memorized every word. And even now, years later, it's verses still run through my head. This piece quotes the first 7 lines of this famous poem, written in scrabble pieces. This assemblage is constructed from a piece of wood, that in a former life was a kitchen cabinet from the 1930's. It measures 16"x14".  I framed the piece in vintage yard sticks, and it finished it off with a lovely brown snake that is attached in such a way that allows both the head and the tail to move when touched.  (click on image for a closer look)  IN PRIVATE COLLECTION